Howard Hu, NASA Orion Program Manager Overseeing Artemis Missions, Visits IMS For All School Assembly

Howard Hu, Denise Thomas, and Mak Abulhosn kneel in front all of IMS students in the IMS gym during the assembly. 

Mercer Island, WA, May 29, 2026 – From April 1 to April 10 our country’s attention and imagination was captured by Artemis II travelling to and circling the moon and returning to earth with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego.

Islander Middle School sixth grade language arts teacher Denise Thomas was one of many who was focused on the Artemis II mission. She shared Artemis II updates and information with her students every day of the mission.

Thomas was also invested in the mission because a friend of hers, Mak Abulhosn, whose two sons graduated from Mercer Island High School, was a close friend of Howard Hu, the NASA Program Manager who leads the design, development, production, and operations of Orion, NASA’s next-generation human exploration spacecraft for the Artemis missions to the moon.

Hu, who grew up in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from the University of Washington with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, heard from Abulhosn how Thomas was sharing Artemis II updates with her classes every day and decided to send a video message to the students while the mission to the moon was underway.

“Howard created a personal message for just my classes and gave us an inside peek into the Johnson Space Center and a key control room to the mission. We were blown away!”, said Thomas, who was named one of three MISD Certificated Employees of the Year on May 27.

Today, IMS welcomed Hu to an all-school assembly in the gym during fifth period. Hu presented photos, videos, and information about the Artemis II mission and answered questions from IMS students.

“I thought the assembly was amazing,” said sixth grader Blaire Wang. “I think the video clips of the actual work at NASA and the Artemis II mission stuff was really incredible. Aerospace and NASA is really cool.”

Hu had a trip to visit family in the region scheduled for the end of May, and with the help of a NASA Outreach Coordinator, Thomas and Abulhosn were able to coordinate Hu’s visit to IMS.

“I think it was incredible how Howard came to our school,” said sixth grader Audrey Kratz. “It was amazing how he showed us these videos and like told us facts, like insider facts that not many of us have known.”

IMS students submitted questions about the Artemis II mission, Hu’s educational background, and how he joined NASA that Hu answered with depth, clarity and inspiration.

“I’m forever grateful to my friend Mak for connecting my students with Howard. Hearing Howard speak today was inspiring and shows his true passion for space exploration. His generosity has left an indelible mark at IMS,” said Thomas.

Both Audrey and Blaire followed the Artemis II mission in April.

“I was at track practice before the launch had started. But when I rushed home, I was like, sitting at my computer waiting for it to happen. And I was like “No! There’s delays. There’s so many delays.” and I was like really scared but excited at the same time,” said Audrey.

“I followed the mission and watched some of the livestreams and joined the splashdown live stream like halfway through and had just gotten home and really wanted to see it,” said Blaire.

Watch IMS Principal Mary Jo Budzius introduce Hu to IMS

Hu presented Thomas with a framed photo of the moon containing an Orion patch that flew on the Orion spacecraft with text that reads:

Presented To:

Language Arts Students of Mrs. Denise Thomas
Islander Middle School – Mercer Island, Washington

In recognition of your exceptional curiosity, creativity and support of NASA’s Artemis missions to return humans to the lunar surface.

Your enthusiasm for exploration, learning, and the future of human spaceflight inspires the Orion Program team and fuels our missions to the Moon. Your excitement reminds us why we do this work and helps pave the way for the future you will shape.

Thank you for inspiring us to keep exploring and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible as we return humanity to the Moon and prepare for future crewed missions to Mars!

Howard Hu
Orion Program Manager

Blaire and Audrey, like many of their classmates, were so impressed with Hu and his presentation.  

“It was a really once in a lifetime really special moment. I think it was incredible,” said Blaire

“Same,” said Audrey.